Causes of removal of the eye in Mulago Hospital

ABSTRACT

During the period January 1987-December 1991; 248 patients were studied and 350 eyes removed. Two patients had both eyes removed. Out of the 348 patients; 236 or 67.82were males and 112 or 32.18were females. Of the 350 eyes removed in the 5 year period; 170 were enucleated and 169 were evicerated. Exenteration was done in 11 cases for malignant tumours. Trauma was the commonest cause of eye removal (35.43); followed by ocular infection; (21.14) and then malignant tumours; (18.8). Retinoblastoma was the commonest tumour encountered. The age group 0-9 years had the largest number of patients at 23.56. All the patients were of African origin; and the local ethnic group; Ganda; were the majority. The largest number of patients were peasants